Combined spout and cock



H. A. MART COMBINED SPOUT AND COCK 5 5 9 1 2w 1 m e S Filed Sept. 22, 1951 ll Y INVENTOR. HarryAMa ri dike/ 12% l l l l 1 United States Patent O COMBINED SPOUT AND COCK Harry A. Mart, Chicago, n1.

Application September 22, 1951 Serial No. 247,826

3 Claims. 'ci'. 2 22- 498 This invention relates'to a two-part valve and spout structure for incorporation with a fluid holding receptacle, and capable of being actuated manually to pouring position for dispensing fluid and to an ott position when flow is to be terminated. The instant application relates to improvements in the device disclosed in my co-p'ending application Serial No. 234,550,- fil'ed June 30', 1951.

In the aforesaid application there was disclosed a combined valve and spout device comprising a housing for securement to the receptacle and having" a cavity for receiving frictionallya movable valve part which included the pouring spout. One of thetwo embodiments there disclosed contemplated employment of a cylindrical cavity and a cylindrical member held therein. The present invention has redo with improvements in such embodiment, although capable of being carried'into practice in connection'with the spherical socket and spout part also disclosed therein.

While, with properly fitting" parts, the invention previously disclosed was capable" of performing in connection with a receptacle for fuel for cigarette lighters, the limitations of mass production of the two parts from a suitable plastic composition involved inevitable minor errors in dimensions and consequent rejection of devices which were not fluid-tight under all conditions to which the device and receptacle were subjected. Reproducibility in quantity by selective pairing of parts is an extremely ex ensiveprocedure, because the parts must first be mated and then" tested under pressure at least equal to that which will exist when the valve is closed and the sides of the can are compressed. When it is remembered that in order to be acceptable to the trade for which the item is basically intended, a structure of the type under consideration must be sold for approximately one and one-half cents or less, the step of mating and testing the parts under pressure is entirely ruled out. Furthermore even though a leak-proof factory assembly could be achieved the instability of plastic compositions causes dimensional changes during life, and a unit which was fluid-tight atthe factory may subsequently develop a leak on the dealers shelf.

In order to overcome the objections just outlined this invention has for its principal aim the incorporation in the basic invention of the application aforesaid of improvements for insuring against leakage when the movable valve part is in its off position, and notwithstanding minor degrees of misfit between the movable and fixed parts which, in the previously disclosed unit, would likely lead to leaks.

Another object lies in'p'roviding a valve structure in accordance with the foregoing which, while lending itself to a two-part structure, includes efii'cient sealing means.

A further object is to provide a device as aforesaid which does not include gaskets, packing rings or other wearable sealing 'ex'pedients.

Other objects will appear from the followingdescription, which, together with the accompanying drawing,

seal.

discloses a preferred manner of carrying the invention into practice.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevational view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged version of Fig. 3 showing the valve in one of its off positions in full lines, the other being shown in phantom.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing. the valve in on position;

Fig. 6 is a cross section similar to Fig. 5, of a modified form of the invention; and

Fig.7 is a cross section similar to Fig. 5, of a further modified form.

Generally regarded the invention comprehen'ds the provision of a fixed valve part for attachment to the re ceptacle or forming an integral part thereof, and having a socket for frictionally receiving a movable spout part. Preferably the socket and the therein-fitted spout part are of a relatively hard plastic composition having a pliability and elasticity such that the parts may be forcibly interengaged initially and will thereafter remain operatively associated. Moreover these parts are adapted to permit rotation of the spout over alimited range such that apertures in both parts may be caused to register for dispensing of fiuid or movedout of register to interrupt the flow. To insure a tight closure of the'v'alve, the wall defining the aperture in at least one of the parts is constructed near its exit asa crater-like p'rotuberance adapted to bear on the surface of the other part when closure is desired, or to fit within a portion of the passage therein when the valve is open. Thus the resiliency of the material combined with the protruding wall portion serve to seal the passage.- While I prefer to form the protuberance on the fixed part it will be apparent that the same may be on the movable part.

In another aspect the invention contemplates the-provision of the protuberance aforesaid interfi-tting with the passage in the movable part when the device is in' the on position, and with a depression in the movable part when this latteris in the off position, thus to insure a more positive seal.

Still another aspect of the invention lies in providing the passage which leads from the receptacle totheinterior of the valve with a puncturable diaphragm-which may be ruptured just before use. 'In this manner any unusual condition encountered during shipping and storage of the receptacles including'the device-"such as extremes of cold or heat, even though etfective to cause such dimensional changes as would'otherwise rsult'in leakage, may be safely disregarded. While the device as disclosed herein has been fdundfluid-tight without the diaphragm under the range of temperature normally encountered, still it is not always possible to anticipate an unusual environment to which the article may be subjected.

Thus, turning to the drawing, there is shown,- by way of example, a combined'spout and valve" device for attachment to a fluid-holding receptacle 10 of a common type, only a portion thereof being shown in Fig. 3. An upstanding neck 11 is terminated in a head 12' for interfitting with portions of the device to provide a leak-proof The form of the bead 12 is immaterial insofar as the invention is concerned since the hired portion thereof is easily adaptable to a 'neck of virtually'any known construction. Moreover the' device is not limited "to a separately securable unit but may be integrated with the receptacle, as for example by molding the fixed, plastic valve body with the receptacle. Inasmuch as the body is of resilient material, preferably a plastic composition, a unitary arrangement of valve body and receptacle may be realized ideally, since then the walls of the receptacle may be deformed manually by pinching with the fingers to discharge fluid through the spout.

The fixed valve part 14 comprises a hard, yet cornpliant or resilient material, e. g. polyethylene, and includes a skirt 15 surmounted by a walled portion or socket 16. In order to effect an efficient seal with the receptacle neck 11, circular ribs 19 and 21 may be provided for snug engagement below and within the neck 12. Due to the inherent elasticity of polyethylene or other plastic of similar qualities, and by suitable choice of dimensions, I have found that a joint may be effected between the valve body and neck which requires no separate gasket or equivalent sealing means.

The socket 16 includes a cavity 22 of segmental cylindrical configuration but of volume greater than a semicylinder, the curved wall being indicated at 23 and the flat or end walls being indicated at 2424. Preferably the upper boundary 25 of the socket 16 is beveled downwardly and inwardly to facilitate assembly therewith of the movable valve part 27 now to be detailed.

Such part 27 includes a cylindrical body 28 and an integral nozzle or spout 29. The body 28 is so dimensioned with respect to the cavity 22 as to provide a snug or frictional fit therebetween, but not of such degree as to render movement of the part 27 from on to off position or vice versa difficult when manipulated by using the spout 29 as a handle, namely, when the part 27 is turned about the axis of revolution in one sense or the other, i. e. clockwise or anti-clockwise. Polyethylene has an inherently wax-like surface, lending itself well to the function aforesaid. Thus rotation of the movable valve part 27 from a center position, as in Fig. 3, to either the left or right, as in Fig. 4, is effective to change the valve from on to 01f, the reverse action obviously producing a reverse result.

Assembly of the part 27 in the cavity 22 is accomplished simply by forcing the former through the opening 20 at the top of the cavity. During such action the curved walls of the cavity, i. e. as indicated by brackets AA are deformed outwardly and, upon seating of the body 28, will resume the normal position shown to retain the movable valve part in operative position. It will be understood that the width, i. e. left-to-right dimension of the opening 20 is just sufliciently less than the diameter of the mating cylindrical parts as to ensure that the curved wall portions A-A will provide the necessary retention of the spout part.

To provide fluid communication between the interior of the receptacle 10 and the cavity 22 a passage 31 is provided. The movable valve part 27 is provided with a passage 32 for communication with the passage 31 in the on condition of the device.

I have found that while an acceptable seal for viscous fluids may be obtained with only the structure described hereinbefore and in my co-pending application aforesaid, the application of the invention to dispensing of volatile liquids, e. g. naphtha, involves the problem of evaporation and of leakage under pressure. Accordingly I provide at the zone where the passage 31 exits into the cavity 22, a crateriform protuberance 35 extending into the cavity, and therefore capable of bearing upon the curved wall of the body 28 when this latter is moved from on position. As a result, and as aided by the yieldable character of the material employed, the mouth of the passage 31 is efliciently closed when the part 28 is in either of its 0E positions. From Figs. 4 and 5 it will be noted that even though the protuberance 35 is reduced in height when the device is off, the valve part 2''] is dislodged slightly upwardly against the curved wall portions A-A. Thus the resiliency of these wall portions acting downwardly contributes to the sealing action. It has been found that closure is effective to such an extent that liquid cannot be forced out of the receptacle by a pressure of several pounds per square inch applied to the sides thereof.

Upon rotating the valve part 27 to its on position the protuberance 35 will enter, or snap into, the inner extremity of the passage 32 (Fig. 5) for dispensing of fluid. To facilitate disengagement of the protuberance from that position, the lateral surface thereof may be formed in substantially frusto-conical fashion as shown, and the mouth of the passage 32 may be correspondingly chamfered. Moreover, the slight draft or conicity provided to the protuberance 35 will enable the same to snap into the lower terminus of the passage 32 even though the latter is parallel-walled near the terminus or only slightly tapered throughout its length. It is preferred that the transverse dimension of the passage 32 be at least large enough to permit entry of a substantial part of the protuberance 35 thereby to provide a detent action which will maintain the movable valve part 27 in dispensing position until the same is forcibly actuated to one of its two ofi positions.

From the foregoing it will be comprehended that the invention is not limited to a device in which the fixed and movable engaging parts are cylindrically congruent, since spherical or other surfaces of revolution will lend themselves equally well to the swivel action. In this connection it will be understood that the axis of revolution of the surface of the cavity 22 will correspond substantially to the axis of revolution of the movable spout member 27. Actually this axis will shift slightly depending upon the degree to which the protuberance 35 intromits the entrance of the passage 32.

It will have also become apparent that some degree of mismatch between the congruent cylindrical valve body and cavity may be tolerated, since, when the valve is in its on position, the fluid will take the direct path through the aligned passages 31 and 32, whereas in either of the two off positions the passage 31 is efficiently closed. It will be apparent that movement of the part 27 to either of its ofi' positions is limited by abutment of the nozzle 29 against one or the other of the lateral margins of the opening 20.

Turning now to Fig. 6 there is shown an alternative form of the invention in which the movable part 27 is provided with a pair of depressions 4141 having a form such that upon shifting of the part 27 to either of its two off positions the protuberance 35 will seat therewithin with a cushioned action, thereby to seal the exit of the passage 31. Inasmuch as the entry of the protuberance 35 into one of the depressions 41 is in the nature of a detent action, the same may, if desired, be relied upon as an indication that the body 27 is definitely in an off position.

Notwithstanding it has been found that the two forms of the invention shown and described provide a structure which will not leak within a reasonable range of temperature, still it may be desirable to make further provision in that respect for functioning prior to the time the article is put into use. To this end the mouth of the passage 31 may be closed by means of a diaphragm 43, molded integrally with the body 14, and of such thickness that it may be easily pierced with a common bank pin 45. Accordingly with the valve turned to the on position the pin may be passed through the nozzle as shown to effect the piercing action, and whcreafter, following withdrawal of the pin, the article is ready for use. Moreover to assist in guiding the pin the constricted portions 44 of the passage 32 may be lengthened as shown.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve and spout structure of the class described comprising a valve body for securement to a fluid-containing receptacle, a spout part including a body and a nozzle extending therefrom, said valve body having a segmental cylindrical cavity therein and said spout body having a cylindrical configuration for frictional but rotatable engagement in said cavity, the cavity comprising a segment of a cylinder greater than a semi-cylinder, and the valve body comprising compliant material whereby said spout body may be inserted in said cavity by temporary deformation of a portion of the bounding wall thereof, said valve body having a passage providing fluid communication between the interior of the receptacle and the cavity, and said spout body having a passage forming a continuation of the bore of said nozzle, said passages being so arranged as to be brought into and out of register corresponding to on and ofi positions of the valve, and at least one of said passages being provided at its registering end with a crateriform termination and the other of said passages being dimensioned at its registering end for receiving said termination when the passages are in register, at least one of said body and spout parts comprising relatively hard, resilient material for deformation of said socket when said termination is disengaged from said other passage.

2. A valve and spout device for a fluid-dispensing receptacle comprising a fixed valve part of relatively hard, resilient material including a portion for securement to the receptacle and a walled portion defining a segmental cylindrical cavity of volume greater than a semi-cylinder, and a movable valve part including a cylindrical portion congruent with and arranged to engage frictionally and rotatably in said cavity and to be operatively retained therein by that part of said walled portion outwardly of the common diameter of said cavity and cylindrical portion, said movable valve part having a nozzle extending therefrom, the passage of the nozzle being continued through said cylindrical portion, said fixed valve part having a passage providing fluid communication between the interior of the receptacle and the interior of said cavity, said passages being arranged to be placed into register upon movement of the movable valve part to on position and out of register upon movement thereof to off position, the wall of said valve part passage terminating at the interior of the wall of the cavity in an embossment thereon, and the said movable part passage terminating in a transverse area sufficient to receive said embossment, the embossment frictionally engaging the movable valve part to close the fixed valve passage when the movable valve part is moved to ofi position, at least one of said valve parts comprising a relatively hard, resilient material for deformation of said cavity when the embossment is disengaged from the movable part passage.

3. A valve and spout device of the class described comprising a first part having walls defining a segmentally cylindrical cavity greater than a semi-cylinder and a portion for securing said first part to a fluid containing receptable and a second part including a cylindrical portion congruent with said cavity for pivotal movement therein, said movable part having means for actuating the same on its pivotal axis, said first part having a passage for providing fluid communication between the in terior of the receptacle and the joint defined by the adjoining surfaces, and said second part having a passage for providing fluid communication between said joint and the exterior of the device, and at least one of said parts being provided, on its respective adjoining surface, with a crateriform protuberance surrounding the terminus of the respective passage terminating in its respective surface, and the terminus in said joint of the said other passage being dimensioned with respect to said protuberance for snap-type engagement of said protuberance into said other passage whenthe termini are brought into register, said protuberance being in continuous frictional contact with the adjoining surface, and at least one of said parts comprising resilient material, whereby said first part may be forcibly inserted in said second part and therein resiliently retained.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,259,057 Vick Mar. 12, 1918 1,283,906 Riebel Nov. 5, 1918 1,430,552 Hothersall Oct. 3, 1922 1,669,884 Wacker May 15, 1928 1,726,315 Rose Aug. 27, 1929 1,956,880 Staufier May 1, 1934 2,028,175 Waite Ian. 21, 1936 

